Belonging at the Intersections: Hidden Struggles in STEMM

What does it mean to belong when you’re constantly navigating the weight of cultural expectations, professional ambition, and personal identity?

In this episode of Hearth 2 Heart, Gayathri Shukla is joined by Dr. Roopali Chaudhary, founder of Lotus STEMM, for a deeply personal conversation about the intersectional struggles South Asian women face in STEMM. From unspoken family pressures to the invisible load of being the "only" in a boardroom, they explore how identity shapes our choices and outcomes. They also further unpack the concept of "meta-reflexivity" - a promising early finding from their WAGE-funded project, Breaking Barriers, to advance systemic solutions for equity in STEMM.

By weaving together story and insight, this episode invites us to reimagine belonging at the intersections of culture, gender, and science. Learn more at:

lotusstemm.org
campfirekinship.com